Page 46 of Brutal Sinner
He sighs heavily. “Fucking disgrace.”
He growls, “I was dishonorably discharged because I took no shit from him, when he was the one servicing whores and dealing in drugs.”
I shift in my seat as he laughs out loud. “I got the last laugh, though. He fucked up and after an anonymous tip off, found himself court martialed and is currently serving ten in the penitentiary. Word is, it’s not going well.”
Faith catches my eye and I smile and am happy to receive one in return. Blade’s story is just one of many similar ones at the Rubicon, but that isn’t what worries me. It’s what happens in the bar that concerns me because it’s definitely not a place for an innocent like Faith and I wonder how she’ll react when she sees exactly how I’ve been spending my time since she’s been gone.
CHAPTER27
FAITH
Despite his appearance, I’ve taken quite a liking to Blade. Like Jonny said, he hides a heart of gold under that insane body, and I wonder if he has a family where we’re heading. I wouldn’t dare ask, though. In fact, the less I say, the better because I don’t want to draw anyone’s attention onto me. They scare the shit out of me, and yet when I see Jonny sitting beside the rugged biker, he doesn’t look as out of place as I figured he would.
Since I left, he’s grown a little rougher, stronger even, and the body he wears like a suit designed to trap a woman’s soul is all I can focus on right now.
We have a house. We are a family. I am still wrapping my head around that, and as we turn off the highway onto a side road, my heart lurches when I consider what happens next.
The guys chat about people I’ve never heard of and I’m glad to be left alone with my thoughts. I study the passing scenery and note civilization left us a while back, the smart houses giving way to open countryside and as the cavalcade slows down, I watch with growing interest where they’re heading.
We turn off onto a dirt track that appears to lead absolutely nowhere. There is no indication there is anything here at all and as we pass trees, large bushes and dilapidated structures, my heart is in my mouth as I struggle to drag some bravery out from somewhere.
I stare with growing trepidation as the bikes all stop outside a huge steel building. The bikers, jeering as they rile each other up. The chrome from the handlebars gleaming in the diminishing light when night steals the day away.
My eyes widen at the sheer size of the steel compound as they call it and I stare at the huge sign that hangs above the door.
Abandon hope all who enter here.
I stare at my daughter with a wry smile. There will be no abandoning of hope all the time I breathe and so as we pull to a stop, I dig deep for the bravery my daughter needs from me.
Blade turns off the ignition and spins around, his dark eyes twinkling as they stare at me hard. “I’ll say this only once, darlin’.”
I swear I hold my breath because I couldn’t move if I wanted to, and he growls, “If you have any trouble from anyone inside these walls, you come and find me if Jonny ain’t around. I want sunshine and rainbows with a few unicorns thrown in where you’re concerned, and I’ll accept nothing less.”
Jonny rolls his eyes, but I can see why he loves these guys so much. Not a single one of them to this point hasn’t made me extremely welcome and set my mind at rest.
“Thanks, Blade.” I whisper shyly, his name sounding strange as it falls from my lips, and he nods.
“Then don’t keep the president’s old lady waiting. She’s looking mighty anxious over there.”
I turn and see an extremely pretty woman standing beside her husband, peering anxiously in our direction, and I stare in fascination as he leans down and whispers something in her ear that makes her bat his hand away. He laughs, and it’s obvious they have an easy relationship, which makes me feel a lot better.
I watch as another woman with bright red hair runs up to join her and the scary snake man heads across and swings her into his gigantic arms. She throws her head back and laughs and for some reason, it makes me smile. They are happy. It’s obvious and so I don’t feel quite as bad as I thought I would as Jonny helps us from the car.
The group head our way and the president’s old lady, as they call her, says with a huge smile, “Hiya, honey, welcome to the Rubicon. Take no notice of the name. I’m trying to get Ryder to agree to change it to Happiness House.”
He rolls his eyes as the guys jeer and she drops me a cheeky wink as the other girl surges forward. “I’m Bonnie and I’m so pleased to meet you, honey. Now let me take a look at that adorable baby gurgling in your arms.”
Jonny slaps his arm around my shoulder, and I don’t miss the fond looks the women direct his way as they say happily, “Your daughter is beautiful, Jonny. Then again…” Ashton says. “Faith is every bit as gorgeous as you told us she was.”
I stare at Jonny in surprise, and he shrugs, “Don’t be surprised, darlin’. Everyone has a past in The Rubicon and it gets dragged out you pretty darned quickly when you join up.”
Ryder grins and then says loudly, “We should let the girls settle Faith and Hope in. Jonny, as much as it will be like tearing the skin from your back, you should come and grab a beer and leave the women to it.”
I study Jonny’s reaction and as he hesitates, I say softly, “It’s ok. Go and grab a beer. You must need one after the day we’ve had.”
He appears anxious and hovers uncertainly as the other men head to the large front door and Bonnie snaps, “Just fuck off, Sinner. We’ve got this.”
I’m amazed when he merely grins and steals a quick kiss from me and presses one on Hope’s soft head before he heads after the guys, leaving me with two women who couldn’t have been nicer.